The magic is indeed gone. I had to look at some other cars online because that front end is way wrong. I think that grille piece is some kind of homemade fit from a later model of Cadillac. And the pieces surrounding the headlights are missing.
That aside, I never understood the decision to ditch the hidden headlights. Putting the body-colored plugs where the front signal lights had been and piecing open headlights in that front just wrecked the car.
There was a 14th Floor Corporate edict issued against hideway headlights for ’70 and beyond, except the Corvette. There was a number of such edicts
in this period. Another was no GM engines (except the Corvette) could exceed 1HP/CID. This turned out to not be a problem in the malaise era.
One more example. No GM car was allowed to have multiple carburetion
after 1966 (again, except for the Corvette) .
I had the Corgi diecast toy version of this as a kid, it was white and everything. It was not my favorite toy, I didn’t like the proportions even then!
I believe what we have here is a ’68 model with the headlamp doors open. That is why at first glance it looks like it is missing some trim. The ’69 and ’70 models have a finer grille pattern, and the tail lamps are definitely pre-’70
It is somewhat unusual in that it has no rust accelerator, er vinyl top. That is likely why it has survived.
I lusted after these back in the day, and had some experience with them as a used car lot employee, but they make poor restoration candidates unless you have deep pockets.
I think you are right. And IIRC, the headlight covers were vacuum operated, and the ones on my 1976 LTD would pop open in the heat of the summer when parked for even a short time. Here’s a photo with one eye winking that gives good perspective.
As facelifts go, this could have turned out a lot worse.
As far as the proportions, I actually like them, but will always think that these cars (including theToronado, and to a lesser extent the Riviera) just seem so huge. I realize that the divisions that produced them were built on big cars for big (hugely successful) people, and that an alternate concept had them as the size of the mid-sized GM cars but was vetoed.
I guess I should be glad that this car spawned the Monte Carlo and Grand Prix….oh, maybe I have that sort of backwards since the GP came before the Eldorado?
I too agree it’s a ‘68. GM “freshened” all the ‘70 ‘E’ bodies, IMO Toronado looked the best with it’s odd George Barris custom Mannix looking grill, Riviera was hideous, the Eldorado did look played out by 1970, it’s unique taillights were made slim and it got a new grill that was it – until the bloated Opera Windowed ‘71 arrived.
Back in 1968 Cadillac advertised these cars as the “World’s finest personal car.” Back then Cadillac was at the top of their game. This was one of their most expensive models. Anyone who could afford this could easily buy a Coupe de Ville, or convertible. The convertible was not available in the Eldorado until 1971. It sat at the top of GM’s hierarchy Rivieras and Toronados a rung or two below. Thunderbirds also were not quite as impressive. The Lincoln Mark III didn’t show up until the next year as a direct competitor.
I saw a well worn ’70 parked at the curb on my last trip to So Cal. I still find the chiseled lines very attractive, but you kind of forget how big these things were. These still had kind of an athletic, macho appeal that was lost when the more bloated 71’s hit the scene. I wanted one for a very, very, long time.
Just for perspective, this article started with most of us, Me included, thinking that this car was of a different vintage than it actually is. The main reason for that confusion is that the headlight doors are open. It gives a much different look than when they are closed, but how could we have missed that they were open? We missed it because GM put real headlight trim around the headlights even though they would be hidden most of the time. The reason that we likely goofed is that when it comes to hidden headlights on a luxury car, Lincoln was king. There were years when you couldn’t buy a Lincoln that didn’t have hidden headlights. We got used to seeing Lincolns ( and others) with their headlight doors open. They looked awful open. Just bare lights with no trim behind a door. Luxury? Would it have been a deal breaker if Mark IV cost $8 more because there was trim around the headlights? This Cadillac shows how GM got it once upon a time.
The magic is indeed gone. I had to look at some other cars online because that front end is way wrong. I think that grille piece is some kind of homemade fit from a later model of Cadillac. And the pieces surrounding the headlights are missing.
That aside, I never understood the decision to ditch the hidden headlights. Putting the body-colored plugs where the front signal lights had been and piecing open headlights in that front just wrecked the car.
I do kind of like those big, fat tires, though.
It has sort of a distorted ’64 Riveria look.
There was a 14th Floor Corporate edict issued against hideway headlights for ’70 and beyond, except the Corvette. There was a number of such edicts
in this period. Another was no GM engines (except the Corvette) could exceed 1HP/CID. This turned out to not be a problem in the malaise era.
One more example. No GM car was allowed to have multiple carburetion
after 1966 (again, except for the Corvette) .
Well, it’s rust-free and straight. That’s pretty impressive in this midwesterner’s eyes.
I was ok with the ditching of hidden headlights. These were still so much better than the bloated monstrosities that followed.
+1.
And Mr. Perry continues to impress.
I had the Corgi diecast toy version of this as a kid, it was white and everything. It was not my favorite toy, I didn’t like the proportions even then!
I had the Hot Wheels version – green with a black roof, if I remember correctly.
It’s dirty and missing a few trim pieces but it looks in pretty good shape for a car that is a half century old.
Have always enjoyed this generation of Eldorado.
Chiseled corners, sharp creases, mammoth hood, short deck.
The ’79 Eldorado was a mini-me version of the above and I enjoyed it as well.
I’ll just leave this here:
https://youtu.be/oica5jG7FpU
I believe what we have here is a ’68 model with the headlamp doors open. That is why at first glance it looks like it is missing some trim. The ’69 and ’70 models have a finer grille pattern, and the tail lamps are definitely pre-’70
It is somewhat unusual in that it has no rust accelerator, er vinyl top. That is likely why it has survived.
I lusted after these back in the day, and had some experience with them as a used car lot employee, but they make poor restoration candidates unless you have deep pockets.
I think you are right. And IIRC, the headlight covers were vacuum operated, and the ones on my 1976 LTD would pop open in the heat of the summer when parked for even a short time. Here’s a photo with one eye winking that gives good perspective.
It is a ’68 with the white vinyl top.
Good catch. You have convinced me.
As facelifts go, this could have turned out a lot worse.
As far as the proportions, I actually like them, but will always think that these cars (including theToronado, and to a lesser extent the Riviera) just seem so huge. I realize that the divisions that produced them were built on big cars for big (hugely successful) people, and that an alternate concept had them as the size of the mid-sized GM cars but was vetoed.
I guess I should be glad that this car spawned the Monte Carlo and Grand Prix….oh, maybe I have that sort of backwards since the GP came before the Eldorado?
I too agree it’s a ‘68. GM “freshened” all the ‘70 ‘E’ bodies, IMO Toronado looked the best with it’s odd George Barris custom Mannix looking grill, Riviera was hideous, the Eldorado did look played out by 1970, it’s unique taillights were made slim and it got a new grill that was it – until the bloated Opera Windowed ‘71 arrived.
Always impressed by Mr. Perry’s photography subjects, this Caddy looks like it just got back from a long run through the desert.
Its a 68 as the 67 did no have the rear quarter side marker light
Back in 1968 Cadillac advertised these cars as the “World’s finest personal car.” Back then Cadillac was at the top of their game. This was one of their most expensive models. Anyone who could afford this could easily buy a Coupe de Ville, or convertible. The convertible was not available in the Eldorado until 1971. It sat at the top of GM’s hierarchy Rivieras and Toronados a rung or two below. Thunderbirds also were not quite as impressive. The Lincoln Mark III didn’t show up until the next year as a direct competitor.
I saw a well worn ’70 parked at the curb on my last trip to So Cal. I still find the chiseled lines very attractive, but you kind of forget how big these things were. These still had kind of an athletic, macho appeal that was lost when the more bloated 71’s hit the scene. I wanted one for a very, very, long time.
The first year was the cleanest.
Awesome beast, modded or not.
Just for perspective, this article started with most of us, Me included, thinking that this car was of a different vintage than it actually is. The main reason for that confusion is that the headlight doors are open. It gives a much different look than when they are closed, but how could we have missed that they were open? We missed it because GM put real headlight trim around the headlights even though they would be hidden most of the time. The reason that we likely goofed is that when it comes to hidden headlights on a luxury car, Lincoln was king. There were years when you couldn’t buy a Lincoln that didn’t have hidden headlights. We got used to seeing Lincolns ( and others) with their headlight doors open. They looked awful open. Just bare lights with no trim behind a door. Luxury? Would it have been a deal breaker if Mark IV cost $8 more because there was trim around the headlights? This Cadillac shows how GM got it once upon a time.
Demolition Derby material, the condition is horrid even if you pay 500.00 for it. It needs 15k to be presentable. Love caddy’s I’ll pass.